Oxcarbazepine (Page 8 of 10)

How can I watch for early symptoms of suicidal thoughts and actions?

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Pay attention to any changes, especially sudden changes, in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings.

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Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled.

Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you are worried about symptoms.

Do not stop taking oxcarbazepine without first talking to a healthcare provider.

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Stopping oxcarbazepine suddenly can cause serious problems.

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Stopping a seizure medicine suddenly in a patient who has epilepsy may cause seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

Suicidal thoughts or actions may be caused by things other than medicines. If you have suicidal thoughts or actions, your healthcare provider may check for other causes.

What is oxcarbazepine?

Oxcarbazepine is a prescription medicine used:

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alone or with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures in adults

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alone to treat partial-onset seizures in children 4 years and older

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with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures in children 2 years and older

It is not known if oxcarbazepine is safe and effective for use alone to treat partial-onset seizures in children less than 4 years of age or for use with other medicines to treat partial-onset seizures in children less than 2 years of age.

Do not take oxcarbazepine if you are allergic to oxcarbazepine or any of the other ingredients in oxcarbazepine, or to eslicarbazepine acetate. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in oxcarbazepine.

Many people who are allergic to carbamazepine are also allergic to oxcarbazepine. Tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to carbamazepine.

Before taking oxcarbazepine, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

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have or have had suicidal thoughts or actions, depression or mood problems

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have liver problems

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have kidney problems

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are allergic to carbamazepine. Many people who are allergic to carbamazepine are also allergic to oxcarbazepine

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use birth control medicine. Oxcarbazepine may cause your birth control medicine to be less effective. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best birth control method to use.

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are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Oxcarbazepine may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant while taking oxcarbazepine. You and your healthcare provider will decide if you should take oxcarbazepine while you are pregnant.

If you become pregnant while taking oxcarbazepine, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. The purpose of this registry is to collect information about the safety of antiepileptic medicine during pregnancy. You can enroll in this registry by calling 1-888-233-2334.

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are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Oxcarbazepine passes into breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take Oxcarbazepine.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Taking oxcarbazepine with certain other medicines may cause side effects or affect how well they work. Do not start or stop other medicines without talking to your healthcare provider.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take oxcarbazepine?

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Do not stop taking oxcarbazepine without talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping oxcarbazepine suddenly can cause serious problems, including seizures that will not stop (status epilepticus).

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Take oxcarbazepine exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may change your dose. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much oxcarbazepine to take.

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Take oxcarbazepine 2 times a day.

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Take oxcarbazepine with or without food.

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Before taking oxcarbazepine oral suspension shake the bottle well and use the oral dosing syringe that comes with your oral suspension to measure the amount of medicine needed. Oxcarbazepine oral suspension can be mixed in a small glass of water, or swallowed directly from the syringe. Clean the syringe with warm water and let it dry after each use.

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If you take too much oxcarbazepine, call your healthcare provider right away.

What should I avoid while taking oxcarbazepine?

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Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how oxcarbazepine affects you. Oxcarbazepine may slow your thinking and motor skills.

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Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that make you sleepy or dizzy while taking oxcarbazepine until you talk to your healthcare provider. Oxcarbazepine taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness may make your sleepiness or dizziness worse.

These are not all the possible side effects of oxcarbazepine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store Oxcarbazepine Oral Suspension, USP?

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Store oxcarbazepine oral suspension at room temperature between 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F)

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Keep oxcarbazepine oral suspension in the original container and use within 7 weeks of first opening the bottle.
Shake well before using.

Keep oxcarbazepine and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General Information about the safe and effective use of oxcarbazepine.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use oxcarbazepine for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give oxcarbazepine to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information about oxcarbazepine that is written for health professionals.